Coronation Street character Kirsty Soames stirred up significant turmoil during her time on the show. Since departing, what has the actress been busy with?

In 2011, Natalie Gumede debuted as Kirsty, the romantic interest of Alan Halsall’s character, Tyrone. Their relationship blossomed, resulting in the birth of their daughter, Ruby, in 2012.

The storyline took a dark turn when Kirsty began to abuse Tyrone, subjecting him to violent outbursts and false accusations of abuse. However, during a 2013 trial, Kirsty admitted to being the abuser, leading to Tyrone’s exoneration and her conviction and imprisonment. She granted custody of Ruby to Tyrone, who vowed to never see her again.

In 2014, references to Kirsty resurfaced as she sent abusive messages to Tyrone post-prison release. Fast forward to 2021, news of Kirsty’s passing emerged, attributed to an aneurysm. She was found deceased in her apartment by a neighbor.

Recent episodes of the show revisited Tyrone’s history of domestic abuse, paralleling Todd Grimshaw’s ordeal with husband Theo Silverton. Actress Natalie reflected on her decision to depart the soap, expressing mixed emotions about leaving a team she cherished.

Post-Coronation Street exit, Natalie’s career flourished. Notably, she participated in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, achieving joint second place. Her TV credits include appearances in ITV’s Jekyll & Hyde (2015), Vera (2019), and Netflix’s Free Rein (2017-2019). She also starred in the Netflix films Your Christmas or Mine? (2022) and its sequel (2023) as Kaye Taylor.

During the movie premiere, Natalie shared her delight in portraying the lively character of Aunty Kaye, contrasting her usual dark and sinister roles. She relished the opportunity to showcase a different facet of her acting abilities.

Catch Coronation Street airing on ITV1 and ITVX every Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm.